Oakland salon raises over $5K to fight disease

Share this:

Calm, A Salon on Piedmont Avenue raised more than $5,000 for ALS Therapy Development Institute on behalf of Corey Reich, of Piedmont. Reich, 28, an assistant tennis coach at Piedmont High School, was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21. Above, Reich, with turquoise suede shoes — the salon’s color — is shown with, from left, friend Teresa Lahadere, his mother, Wendy Reich, and sister, Clare Reich. Corey Reich greeted people who signed up for the Cut-A-Thon. For the story and more photos, go to Page A8.

OAKLAND — The first Cut-A-Thon hosted by Eryn Harrison, owner of Calm, A Salon, in honor of Corey Reich of Piedmont raised $5,261 for the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a nonprofit biotech focused on discovering and developing treatments for ALS.

Dressed Sunday in turquoise suede shoes — the salon’s color — Reich, 28, greeted guests who had signed up for services as well as many others who came by to make a donation at the Piedmont Avenue salon. Reich was diagnosed with ALS at 21. With Reich was his sister, Clare, who works for ALS TDI, his aunt, Jacque Portewig, and his mother, Wendy.

“Going to Eryn for years — Corey, since he was 16 — I knew she would host a fabulous event,” Wendy Reich said. “Not only did we raise a lot of money for ALS TDI, it was fun and everyone left with great hair.”

“We are so pleased with the turnout and support of friends, family and customers as well as the volunteer stylists from my shop and other salons,” Harrison said. “All are outstanding professionals, and it was an honor to have them in my salon supporting Corey and ALS TDI. It makes me proud to be among such great people.”

The volunteer stylists, associates of Harrison who work in other salons or own their own shops in Oakland and San Francisco, kept busy throughout the Sunday event, doing more than 38 services ranging from treatments to haircuts to shampoos and blowouts.

All the proceeds from the services including stylist gratuities, money raised from raffle prizes and 15 percent of all retail products sold went directly to ALS TDI. Donations for the prizes and treatments came from Kerastase USA, L’Oreal Professionale and 7 Haircare. Refreshments were donated by Adesso, a Reich family favorite restaurant on Piedmont Avenue, Just Relish Catering and Wine on Piedmont.

Toxins released by the algae have poisoned dolphins, manatees, tons of fish and even contributed to the death of a 26-foot-long whale shark. The deluge of dead and rotting wildlife strewn across beaches has threatened to upturn the vital Florida tourist season